A Mate for Lazarus(4)

She clenched her fists at her sides. The nerve! “What did you just say?” She put everything she had into those few words and was impressed with the growl in her voice.

The big guy took a step towards her and gave a half smile. “Who’s deaf now? You can take your sexy ass back to the gate, human.”

How dare he tell her that her ass was sexy? How. Dare. He. “Human?” She shrieked. “Who’s your damned human? My ass and I aren’t going anywhere, thank you. I am Alexandra Stone. It says so right here. You are the one that’s deaf and an idiot.” She waved her ID document at him.

He gave her a smile. “That could be fake.” He gestured to the document in question.

She felt her temperature go up about a hundred degrees…if not more. The urge to hit him rode her hard, especially when his mouth twitched. The big jerk was enjoying himself.

“Do you really think it’s fake?” The guard asked, a huge frown appearing on his forehead.

“It’s not damn well fake.” She shouted at the idiot guard before looking back at the gigantic asshole. “Just because you have big muscles and can growl like a bear doesn’t mean that you can intimidate me.” To prove her point, she stepped towards him, as close as she could get without actually touching him.

His mouth twitched again. What the hell was wrong with this guy? “It’s fake,” he growled.

Alexandra couldn’t help but to snort. What a total asshole. What an idiot. She had to work hard not to kick him in the shin, or better yet to kick him right between the legs. There was no way she would miss with such a huge target.

“Fine,” the guard growled. “I will escort her out.” He gripped her by the elbow and pulled her along with him for a few strides. Alex tried to yank her arm free but failed so she feigned cooperation.

A deep rumble erupted from the big vampire. It was a definite warning. The guy holding her eased his hold and she took advantage by breaking her arm free. When the guard attempted to grab her again, she dodged his hand and smashed her elbow into his side. Bull’s-eye! He made a grunting noise which was like music to her ears. Alex’s victory was short lived because he lunged for her again, bracketing both his arms around her and yanking her against him.

“Leave me”—she tried to kick him—“alone!” She shouted, managing to nail the bastard on the shin. His chest vibrated against her as he growled.

Alex couldn’t help the whimper that escaped her. She clamped her mouth shut.

“Let her go.” The big guy snarled, sounding seriously pissed. Next thing she knew, he was at their side and actually yanking the guard’s arm off of her. “Let her fucking go,” this time it came out in an even more terrifying snarl.

“Would somebody be so kind as to tell me what the fuck is going on?”

Alex turned to the newcomers. It was two guys. She instantly recognized one of them from the television and newspapers since the vampires had received a ton of attention lately. His dark eyes bore into her for a second before moving to the big brute. It was King Brant. She didn’t recognize the other guy with him.

She felt the idiot guard release her and she flexed her hand a few times to restore her circulation. She might even have some bruises. Dickhead.

She was just in the process of turning to give the moron a dirty look when the big guy pulled her behind him, putting himself between her and the vampire king. Her heart beat a little faster. He was acting like she was in actual danger or something. Which was utter bullshit. Though the gesture was both irritating and sweet.

“I asked what the fuck was going on? What is this human female doing on vampire territory?” King Brant said. “Escort her out.” His eyes flicked to her for a second before returning to the guard.

Alex craned her neck around the big guy, who kept his hand on her waist.

“Wait.” The brute growled at the guard who turned pale and looked down at his feet. Interesting. It looked like the big guy might have some authority after all.

“Explain and make it quick.” The king kept his eyes on the big guy.

This was ridiculous. Alex tried to move out from behind the wall of muscle in front of her but he held her in place, even giving her side a light squeeze. “This female, Alexandra Stone”—he said in a deep, rich baritone that seemed to vibrate right through her—“has an acceptance letter stating that she is one of the females permitted to take part in the first phase of The Program.”

The king frowned. “That can’t be.” Then he looked confused. “Her name is familiar though. Let me see the letter.” He held out his hand.

“I thought you didn’t believe me,” she whispered to the brute’s back, which was ridiculously broad.

“I was teasing you,” a rough growl, but it sounded like he was smiling.

The freaking cheek. A snorting noise escaped. She should crack open his nuts for pulling a stunt like that but settled on a sharp smack on the arm since he did seem to be trying to help her. She shook her head, rolled her eyes and smiled despite herself. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you manners?”

He chuckled. It was a warm sound.

The paper crinkled in King Brant’s hand, drawing her attention back to what was actually important. Focus Alex. She was moments away from either getting into the vampire program or of losing any hope of a story. The king’s frown deepened. His dark stare moved to her and then back down to the document, and then back up again. “This looks authentic.” He sounded shocked. Finally!

“She has an identity document that proves that she is Alexandra Stone. It looks legit.” The big guy said and she tried to move out from behind him again.

What the hell was wrong with him? King Brant wasn’t about to hurt her. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you morons all along.”

She shot daggers at the guard who had the good grace to look sheepish. The big brute turned his gaze on her so she threw him the filthiest look she could muster. His sexy mouth twitched. The bastard. She should smack it and bust up his lips, then they wouldn’t be so damned sexy anymore.

“Apologies…” The king said. “For whatever reason you were not informed that The Program has started. We have twenty five females present, so someone must’ve been called accidentally in your place.” Brant shrugged. “I will have someone escort you out. We could even give you a lift back home.” He raised his brows.

Like hell! “Excuse me?” She worked hard at keeping her voice even. Alexander lifted her finger and pointed it at the king. “If you think I’m just going to turn around and walk away, you’re delusional.”

He frowned. “I understand that you’re upset, but there is nothing I can do. The males are about to choose who they wish to keep on seeing in the next round. There is no way that any of them would pick you at this late stage of the game. Go back home, we will call you in the next heat.”

Unacceptable. By then The Program would be old news. She needed in on this heat or not at all. “When the hell is the next heat?” She pretended to be none the wiser. Her purse was beginning to make her shoulder ache. It was the biggest one she owned and had everything you could possibly need in it. A girl just never knew.

Brant rolled his eyes, which looked weird on such a big, badass vampire. “Any unmated males will go into the next heat.” He sighed, sounding bored. “New human females will then be introduced. I will personally make sure that you are included in that batch. My apologies for any inconvenience. I would be happy to write you out a check if it would make you feel better. Heat two will start in a few weeks’ time so you will not need to wait very long.” He even took a step back. He was about to leave. If that happened then her chances were over.

“You can’t buy me and I’m not interested in joining the next heat.” She shook her head while holding his gaze. “I want to stay.” She spoke quickly but emphasized each word. He needed to know how important this was to her. They had accepted her dammit. They couldn’t back out now.

She moved out from behind the big guy who had his eyes firmly fixed on her boobs again. They had that vacant yet heated look that guys got when they were undressing a woman.

The king sighed. “Like I said, none of the males will choose you. It’s a fact, so you’re wasting your time…” Then his eyes narrowed on the huge vampire who was now ogling her ass with his mouth hanging open and his nostrils flared. “Then again…if you could get one of the males to agree upfront, then maybe I would be inclined to agree.”

She turned to face the big brute of a vampire. It seemed like maybe he wanted to help her. By the way his eyes heated as they landed on her breasts she would say that he was certainly attracted to her. “Eyes up here…big guy…stay with me. Tell, King Brant, to please let me stay.”

He seemed to snap out of it, shutting his mouth and even giving his head a little shake. “What?” He growled. It was clear that he hadn’t been listening at all. His little…maybe not so little…make that lower…head had been doing all of the thinking over the last few minutes.

Brant cleared his throat. “The only way I’m going to let this female into the first heat, at this ridiculously late stage of the game, is if someone were to guarantee that they would choose her to go into the next round.” Brant smiled. She had to hold back a gasp as his long, white fangs popped out from behind his lips. Sheesh! Did she really want this? Was it worth it? Hell yes!